Robert Brands may not have been in New York City when the towers fell on Sept. 11, 2001, but he witnessed firsthand the effects the worst terroristic attack on American soil had on those around him.

During the annual Carbon County 9/11 service, held Wednesday morning in the Josiah White Park in Jim Thorpe, Brands spoke about what he witnessed and how it has affected all Americans and changed the path of a generation.

At the time of the attacks, he lived in a small town approximately 75 miles from the World Trade Center. Many of the residents commuted to the city daily.

“On this horrible day, I can remember watching the day unfold like many millions of other Americans, not knowing what was going to happen next or when the chaos would stop,” Brands said.

He served as a football coach at the time and watched as many of the children came to practice that day, only to find out that their parents would not be coming home as a result of the attacks.

In the following days and weeks after the attacks, Brands said he watched as Americans gathered together to grieve and support each other.

“We were the United States of America,” he said. “... We were a country that came together. As I stand here today, I ask myself, how can we best honor those who lost their lives 23 years ago during this terrible attack?”

The program manager for Victory for Veterans at St. Luke’s said that Americans need to help each other, be kind, support our military and their families, volunteer in your communities, be respectful and display your American flag.

His message echoed the thoughts of the other speakers at the service, organized by the Carbon County Veterans Affairs office.

State Rep. Doyle Heffley, who was a truck driver to New York City at the time of the attacks, remembered that day as if it was yesterday.

“We always look back and think about where we were and what we were doing at that moment in time,” he said. “... It is wonderful we take the opportunity to remember that in the time when they were needed, they made the sacrifice, the brave men and women from the fire departments, the Port Authority, police department, EMS, the first responders who ran into the buildings to save lives. ... We gather to here and remember to never forget what happened on 9/11. We need to be aware of the world and the dangers that are there today. ... We need to be aware that the threat is always there and as a nation, we must also remember that we need to prevent another 9/11 attack from ever happening on our soil.”

Other speakers included Carol Etheridge of Congresswoman Susan Wild’s office, Commissioner Wayne Nothstein and Christine LeClair, director of Carbon County Veterans Affairs. Angela Nardini sang the national anthem and other patriotic selections, and the Carbon County United Veterans Organization, as well as several American Legion and VFW members served as the color and honor guards.

The service concluded quietly, with the sun high in the sky, no clouds in sight, much like the day was 23 years ago, when the world woke and Americans went on with their day, not knowing the evil that would unfold and the lives that would be lost.